Edmund and Stev left her without another word and Sophia ushered her toward the washroom. The maid stripped Helena’s clothes from her body without ceremony. As she stepped into the bronze tub and sat in the tepid water, Helena thought of the boy bathing in the river.

His broad chest had shocked her at first and when he’d stepped from the water… She shook her head and focused on his twinkling eyes instead. Under the filth left over from his fight, was a ruggedly handsome man.

A commoner.

What was wrong with her?

In a month’s time, she would choose a husband, or at least that was how it would seem. In truth, her father’s will meant more than hers. Her life would soon be tied to a very different man. Would he be handsome? Quick to smile? Dell looked as if he was made to laugh. Not like the serious noblemen she’d have to entertain at her ball.

A torrent of water splashing over her head pulled her from her thoughts.

“Sophia,” she shrieked.

“Stop daydreaming and scrub. You look more street urchin than princess.”

Once she finished and dressed, Sophia pinned her hair up in intricate loops. It took much more time than Helena would have normally liked, but she was grateful for the delay. She knew what her next task would be.

Facing her father.

The walk across blue velvet floors seemed to take forever and no time at all. Dark cherry-wood walls closed in on her like a tunnel until all she could see was the door to the council chambers where her father awaited.

She lifted her hands to her face, feeling around the edges of the mask. Most of the time, it was her prison, but in this moment, the mask calmed her. Not even her father could see what was truly behind it.

The guards nodded as she stopped on the threshold of the open chamber. She ran her hands down the lacy emerald dress Sophia had forced on her. At least the queen would approve.

Helena’s eyes scanned the room. A circular table sat in the middle. On the far side, the king bent over a map he’d spread across the surface. A few of his advisors stood near, listening to him speak. Stev and Edmund were among them.

The queen was nowhere to be found, but that wasn’t surprising. She preferred not to speak of warfare, and judging by the generals present, that was exactly what was going on. None of the men even noticed her presence.

Behind Stev stood two priests Helena would recognize anywhere. As a girl, they’d taught her the duties of a princess of Madra. Basically, they’d taught her the necessity of hiding her face.